Italy has been promoted. © Fantini Serena

Duty fulfilled: Italy's U18 is back in the third division

The Italian U18 national team lived up to expectations and secured direct promotion back to the third division at the home World Cup in Asiago.

19 April 2025

From: leo

Last year, the Azzurri were relegated to Division IIA for the first time in their history. There, Andrea Ambrosi's team faced the ice hockey extravaganzas of China, the Netherlands, Croatia, Romania, and Great Britain. The team, featuring nine South Tyroleans, achieved its stated goal on Saturday evening: Josef Prast and his team won the decisive match against Great Britain 4-2.

Italy began the tournament with two decisive victories against the Netherlands (6-1) and Romania (6-0). Their 3-2 victory against Croatia, however, only came with four and a half minutes remaining. The Azzurrini also struggled against China (4-2). However, Ambrosi's team was fully prepared against the previously unbeaten British, who hadn't conceded a single goal (!).

South Tyroleans lead the way

In front of 1.600 spectators in Asiago, the South Tyroleans once again put their stamp on the game: Three local players, Villi Pisetta (Unterland Cavaliers), Philipp Winkler (Ingolstadt) from Pustertal, and Prast (Salzburg), who scored five goals as a defender in the tournament, were on the scoresheet. Mattia Lenta from Aosta opened the scoring. Eppan goalkeeper Filippo Matonti (Varese) shone throughout the tournament, posting a save percentage of 91,4 percent.

Mattia Lenta scored the 1-0. © Fantini Serena

Next year's opponents will be Estonia, France, South Korea, and Lithuania. The fifth team has not yet been determined, as the Division 1A World Championship has not yet begun. Meanwhile, the Dutch, winless in Asiago, were relegated to Division 5.